{"id":2452,"date":"2025-06-24T14:55:39","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T12:55:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aidssh.instant.al\/?page_id=2452"},"modified":"2025-07-11T16:27:50","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T14:27:50","slug":"konteksti-historik-dhe-programi","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aidssh.al\/en\/studimi\/konferenca\/konteksti-historik-dhe-programi\/","title":{"rendered":"Historical context and program"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Historical context and program<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The Authority for Information on Former State Security Documents, in cooperation with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy<\/strong><\/p>

and the Faculty of Geology and Mining<\/strong><\/p>

Organizes:<\/strong><\/p>

The scientific symposium<\/strong><\/p>

\u201cExploration and Development of the Oil Sector<\/strong><\/p>

under the Control of State Security\u201d<\/strong><\/p>

\u00a03 July<\/strong><\/p>

\u201cMusine Kokalari\u201d Hall, AIDSSH<\/strong><\/p>

time: 10:00<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Historical context:\u00a0\u00a0

<\/strong><\/p>

The oil industry was one of the most important and profitable sectors of the economy, in which the communist regime, after the nationalization of Italian companies in 1945, decided to initiate its research and exploitation with the help of specialists from the Soviet Union.
In 1949, the decision was made to establish the General Directorate of the Oil Combine in Ku\u00e7ova, while in 1965 the Oil Institute was established immediately after the severance of relations with the Soviet Union. The efforts of Albanian engineers over the years, as well as the discovery of several sources, led to oil and gas production reaching its peak in 1974, with 2,248,227 tons (according to AKBN).
In 1973 and 1979, the world economy was hit by two oil crises, which led to an increase in its price from OPEC countries, as a result of which the export prices of less developed or developing countries, such as Albania, fell sharply. Domestic oil production in the early 1980s saw a sharp decline, halving from 2.5 million tons per year to less than 1 million tons per year.
The country faced the failure to realize economic plans, with significant deficits in oil and electricity, a sharp decline in exports, and a deterioration in the trade and foreign exchange balance. All of this increased the pressure of the government on the leaders of the oil sector, shifting the solution to the crisis to the extraction of hostile groups in oil.
\u201cOil breaks the blockade\u201d was the propaganda of the regime, while for each crisis it punished engineers who had previously discovered oil resources and had been the honor of this sector, as well as enjoying work orders and high decorations for bravery.
The arrests of most of the oil engineers were carried out on March 25, 1975, and after several months of investigation, amidst pressure and torture, the following engineers were convicted in 1976: Filip Nashi, Beqir Alia, Ko\u00e7o Plaku, Protoko Murati, Milto Gjikopulli, Dhimit\u00ebr Stefa, Jani Konomi and Nuredin Skrapari. They were accused of being saboteurs of the government, of agitation and propaganda, and of destroying public property.
According to documents and testimonies of survivors of the time, the process was instigated by several anonymous letters, followed by meetings of the Politburo and manipulative work by the State Security.
Engineers Ko\u00e7o Plaku and Milto Gjikopullin were sentenced to death and shot. Their bodies are still missing today.
The aim of this symposium is to bring attention to and open a multidisciplinary scientific and public debate on the approach of the State Security, as a weapon of the Party of Labor, to the exploration and development of the oil sector in Albania during the period 1945 - 1991, the treatment of scientists and oil workers, the documentation of the repression that characterized the supervision that the Security and the Party of Labor had over science, as well as the documentation of the memory of scientists and employees of the sector who lived and worked at that time.

<\/p>

What do we find in the AIDSSH archives about oil?

<\/strong><\/p>

The symposium \"Exploration and Development of the Oil Sector under the Control of the State Security\", which is held in cooperation with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy with the participation of researchers of history, economics and jurisprudence, oil engineers, witnesses of the time, opens for the first time documents of the former State Security. This fund, consisting of 255 archival documents from 1978 - 1983, years when the oil sector, after a positive balance, had begun to decline in production, testifies to the feverish search for new sources of oil and gas, as well as the political pressure that was growing through the structure of the State Security, Party organizations and senior state leaders. Among the archival documents are: Annual analysis of work in the oil security sector; Correspondence with the Fier Internal Affairs Branch and the First Directorate on persons involved in processing; Analysis of the work carried out in the direction of the agency; Report on accountability in the basic party organization; Information sent to the Party Committee on the accountability of the cadres of the Oil Security Branch; Information sent to the First Directorate on the condition of the gas field; Information on several serious violations; Information on breakdowns that occurred in the work of searching for oil and gas in various districts; Report on the causes of the weak dynamics in the implementation of agency processing for sabotage and damage in the Oil Security Branch: files formed and files of Special Facilities such as the Fier Oil Institute, the Ballsh Plant and other oil industry facilities. etc.

<\/p>

The symposium focuses on these main topics:

<\/strong><\/p>

  • The politics of the time in the oil industry; Unknown documents of the Security and statistics and analysis; challenges and consequences on the privacy and freedom of individuals in the industry.<\/li>
  • The role of oil in economic development and contribution to the country's economy, exports and social development, as well as aspects of international relations;<\/li>
  • The conviction and persecution of the so-called \"scapegoats\". Evidence of attempts to destroy political opponents and domestic victims.<\/li>
  • Resistance: Activism and the voice of those who did not agree with state policies in the oil industry.<\/li>
  • Determination of measures taken by the government regarding the exploitation of oil resources and their impact on the environment and society.<\/li>
  • Determination of the distribution of revenues generated from the exploitation of oil and assessment of transparency and accountability in the administration of these revenues.<\/li>
  • Identification of issues of security and protection of oil resources, including the measures taken.<\/li>
  • Determining and monitoring the impact of oil exploitation on the political, economic and social stability of communist Albania, including analysis at the domestic and international levels.<\/li>
  • Identifying and assessing justice-related issues in the field of oil exploitation, including human rights violations.

    <\/li><\/ul>

    Program

    <\/strong><\/p>

    10:00 - 10:20 <\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Documentary exhibition from the AIDSSH archive

    <\/p>

    10.20 \u2013 10.30<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Screening of the documentary: \u201cAlbanian Oil in the Years 1918 \u2013 1990<\/em>\u201d Written by economic journalist Kreshnik Ku\u00e7aj, ScanTv

    <\/p>

    10:30 \u2013 11:00<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Opening remarks:<\/strong>\u00a0

    <\/p>

    Dr. Gentiana Sula, Chairwoman of AIDSSH

    <\/p>

    11:00 \u2013 12:00<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PANEL I\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Moderation: Dr. Edlir Orhani

    <\/strong><\/p>

    Exploration and Development of the Oil Sector under the Optics of State Security.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
    \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>

    Prof. Dr. Nevton Kodhelaj, Faculty of Geology and Mining \u2013 \u201cThe Development of the Oil and Gas Extraction and Processing Sector in Albania and the Communist-Labor Whip on It\u201d. Mr. Altin Hoxha, Member of AIDSSH \u2013 Statistics of persecution in the oil sector, study and analysis of documents.<\/p>

    Dr. Ermal Frash\u00ebri, Researcher \u2013\u00a0The role of oil in economic development and contribution to the country's economy (online);
    <\/em>
    Mr. Ilia Germany, MIE Hydrocarbon exploration and production in Albania

    <\/i><\/span><\/p>

    Msc. Gerla Kotka, AIDSSH, Msc. Enxhi Beka \u2013 \u201cThe persecution and punishment of two oil engineers: Ko\u00e7o Plaku and Milto Gjikopulli in the files of the former State Security\u201d;

    <\/em><\/p>

    Msc. Jonel Hibo, AIDSSH\u2013 \u201cThe activities of Stanislav Zuberi, Riza Alizoti, Lipe Nashi and Nuredin Skrapari, seen in the files of the former State Security\u201d.

    <\/em><\/p>

    Dr. Alda Bi\u00e7oku, National Library - \"The Oil Industry and Its Scientists. The Activity and Persecution of Academician. Prof. Teki Bi\u00e7oku\".<\/p>

    PANEL II\u00a0

    <\/strong><\/p>

    12:00 \u2013 13:00 Greetings from family members

    <\/strong><\/p>

    Biographical profiles of scientists and oil workers \u2013 Family members testify.

    <\/strong><\/p>

    1. Agim Gjikopulli, son of Milto Gjikopulli, in the trial against oil engineers;

      <\/li>
    2. Jovan Plaku, son of Ko\u00e7o Plaku, convicted in the trial against oil engineers;<\/li>
    3. \u00a0<\/li><\/ol>

      Ms. Kozeta Bushati, daughter of Beqir Ali, convicted in the trial against oil engineers;

      <\/p>

      Ms. Nezi Alizoti, daughter of engineer Riza Alizoti.

      <\/p>

      13:00 \u2013 13:20 Conclusions (Dr. Gentiana Sula. Mr. Altin Hoxha Prof. dr. Nevton Kodhelaj,<\/strong>\u00a0Dr. Ermal Frash\u00ebri and family)<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Autoriteti p\u00ebr informim mbi Dokumentet e ish-Sigurimit t\u00eb Shtetit, n\u00eb bashk\u00ebpunim me Ministrin\u00eb e Infrastruktur\u00ebs dhe Energjis\u00eb dhe Fakultetin e Gjeologjis\u00eb dhe Minierave Organizon: Simpoziumin shkencor \u201cEksplorimi dhe Zhvillimi i Sektorit t\u00eb Naft\u00ebs n\u00ebn Kontrollin e Sigurimit t\u00eb Shtetit\u201d \u00a03 korrik Salla \u201cMusine Kokalari\u201d, AIDSSH ora: 10:00 Konteksti historik:\u00a0\u00a0 Industria e naft\u00ebs ishte nj\u00eb nd\u00ebr […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":533,"parent":717,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2452","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aidssh.al\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2452","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aidssh.al\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aidssh.al\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aidssh.al\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aidssh.al\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2452"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/aidssh.al\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2452\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aidssh.al\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/717"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aidssh.al\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/533"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aidssh.al\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2452"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}